-after failure by gov’t to hold talks for 2019-2024
After a bruising four-week strike, the GTU will resume its industrial action tomorrow over the government’s refusal to hold collective bargaining from 2019 to 2024.
The government has insisted that bargaining should only be done from 2024 onwards. The Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) strike began on February 5th and ended 29 days later after court intervention. Subsequent talks between the government and the union failed.
In an advisory yesterday to headteachers and staff, the GTU said “A decision was taken by the Guyana Teachers’ Union on the insistence of its members to resume Strike Action due to failed collective bargaining between the Ministry of Education (MOE)/Government and the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU). The Union views the government’s refusal to engage in Collective bargaining as a breach of our Labour Laws and an insult to the integrity of all teachers in Guyana. We believe that enough patience was exhibited by the Union to allow MOE/Government to arrive at a satisfactory position regarding salary increases for teachers. The repeated salary impositions in December 2021, 2022 and 2023 are a clear indication that the Government is unwilling to engage the GTU meaningfully. The strike will officially resume on Thursday, May 9, 2024, and continue until further notice”.